Cleansing device



Feb..20, 1968 E. J. WILLSON 3,369,266

CLEANSING DEVICE I Filed Sept. 24, 1965 I N VEN TOR.

fmesi J M/[san ATTO 57f United States Patent 3,369,266 CLEANSING DEVICE Ernest J. Willson, Valley View Drive, Windsor, Conn. 06095 Filed Sept. 24, 1965, Ser. No. 489,849 9 Claims. (Cl. -10432) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention comprises a cleaning member and a support member therefor, both of which are removably insertable into a receptacle. The cleaning member is secured to the support member to depend therefrom in supported operating position within the receptacle when the support member is inserted into an openingin the receptacle. An aperture in the support member permits access to the cleaning member which is provided with a brush portion arranged in register with and below the aperture permitting engagement with the brush portion by an article to be cleaned inserted into the receptacle through the aperture in the support member.

This invention relates to a cleansing device and deals more particularly with a brush and supporting insert for use within a receptacle such as a jar or the like. The device of this invention is intended to be inserted into a jar or other receptacle containing a suitable solvent to aid in the removal of fingernail polish or other similar coatings. It may also be used in connection with the polishing or cleaning of other relatively small items.

A general object of this invention is to provide an improved cleansing device which may be removably positioned within a receptacle and securely retained therein, permitting engagement therewith by a fingernail or the like upon inserting a finger into the receptacle.

A further object is to provide a device of the foregoing character for use with cleansing agents or solvents which are readily and generally available.

Another object is to provide a cleansing device which is readily insertable through the opening or mouth of a receptacle and which is supported in operable position therein, depending below said opening.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the foregoing character which is both versatile and practical in use and which is also inexpensive to produce.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the foregoing description and from the drawing forming a part hereof.

The drawing shows a preferred embodiment of the invention and such embodiment will be described, but it will be understood that various changes may be made from the construction disclosed and that the drawing and description are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cleansing device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational front view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view, in elevation, of the present invention shown in operable position and disposed with a receptacle;

3,369,266 Patented Feb. 20, 1968 FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the present invention, showing the core of the cleaning member in broken lines;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the insert portion of the invention as shown in H6. 3, illustrating one form of closure means for the aperture therein.

Referring now to the drawings, the cleansing device 10 of the present invention includes an insert 12 preferably molded in one piece from plastic such as polyethylene or the like. For purposes of illustration, the insert is shown as being generally cylindrical having a peripheral configuration permitting it to be snugly received within the circular orifice or opening 14 of the mouth of the jar l d for frictional retention within said opening as shown. Obviously, the configuration of the insert may be readily adapted to conform to the shape of the receptacle or jar mouth int-o which it is to be inserted and will for all practical purposes function with equal facility and utility.

The insert 12 is preferably, but not necessarily, provided with an annular flange 18 on its upper edge eXtending outwardly therefrom and flush with the upper surface of the insert to provide an annular support 20 therearound. The support 20 is arranged to overlie and rest upon the top edge or rim 22 of the jar mouth to prevent the insert from accidentally being forced too far into the interior of the jar. The flange 18 also acts as a gasket to permit tighter sealing of the jar when a conventional cover (not shown) is placed over the mouth of the jar and snapped or screwed tightly thereon.

The insert 12 is provided with two parallel bores 24, 24- opening from the underside 26 of the insert and eX- tending upwardly thereinto but terminating short of the upper surface 28 thereof. The bores 24, 24 are arranged to receive the terminal end portions 30*, 30 of the core 32 of the cleaning member 34, whereby the cleaning member may depend from the insert and be supported thereby. The ends 30, 30 may be frictionally retained within the bores 24, 24 or secured therein by any other suitable means.

The cleaning member 34 is shown as being of the conventional brush-like variety having a core 32 comprising a plurality of twisted wires for retaining closely spaced yieldable bristles 3:6, 36 forming a brush portion 38 intermediate the ends of the wire core. As can be seen from the drawing, the cleaning member 34 is bent to form the brush portion 38 arcuately, substantially circular or ring shaped in configuration, with the free ends 40, 40 of the core disposed parallel to each other and normal to the plane of the brush portion. As can be best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the terminal end portions 30, 30 of the core are received within the bores 24, 24 of the insert, the brush portion 38 will be supported therebeneath in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of the underside of the insert.

To permit access to the brush 38, the insert is formed with a circular aperture 42 in its upper surface extending therethrough to its underside and is positioned within the insert whereby it will be substantially aligned with the arouate brush 33 depending therebeneath.

While the drawing shows the free ends 40, -40 of the core 32 as not including bristles, it is to be understood that the present invention would function equally well if substantially the entire core element were provided with 3 bristles 36 and for some cleaning purposes it may be desirable to do so.

In order to facilitate placement of the insert into the opening 14 of the jar, the insert is provided with a plurality of axially extending, annularly spaced grooves 4-4, 44 formed in the peripheral wall thereof extending from the underside of the insert and terminating at a point spaced below the circular support 2%. By relieving the peripheral wall surface with the spaced grooves, as shown, it will be apparent that the frictional resistance encountered when initially placing the insert into the jar will be substantially reduced and permit rapid and efficient placement and insertion thereof, It should also be pointed out that axially spaced, annular grooves might be substituted if desired to serve a similar function.

While normally a jar closure cover (not shown) would ordinarily be :used to close the aperture 42 when the pres ent device is not in use, I have illustrated in FIG. 6, a cap 46 which if desired might be used either separately of or in conjunction with the regular jar closure. It will be noted that the cap 46 is of conventional structure and is adapted to cooperate with the aperture 42 to seal the interior of the jar from the atmosphere.

In use, the brush portion 38, normally secured to and depending from the insert 12, is inserted into the interior of the jar 16 through the opening 14. Upon pressing the insert 12 into place within the opening 14, to the position shown in FIG. 3, the brush portion 38 is preferably disposed therebeneath, spaced from the bottom of the jar 16. Normally the jar 16 would contain or thereafter be filled with, a suitable solvent (not shown), the level f which may be above or below the brush portion 38 to suit the convenience of the user.

If, for example, the user wished to remove fingernail polish or other similar coatings from the surface of ones fingernails, she would insert her finger into the jar through the aperture 42 in the insert 12, bringing the fingernail in contact with the solvent within the jar which would of course be of the type normally used for such purpose. After wetting the fingernail with the solvent for the required period of time, generally for only a matter of seconds, removal of the polish, softened by the solvent, is easily accomplished by rubbing the fingernail against the yieldable bristles 36 of the brush portion 38, gently rubbing the nail back and forth several times.

As previously described, the brush portion 38, having an arcuate configuration, as shown in the drawing, and generally aligned with and beneath the aperture 42, it is readily apparent that a finger inserted through the aperture will easily engage the brush 38.

As the level of the solvent in the jar falls, the present device may be used with equal ease and efficiency. If the user prefers the solvent level may be below the brush which may be saturated with solvent by shaking the jar. If such be the case, rubbing the fingernail against the solvent saturated br-ush will deposit sufi'icient solvent upon the nail polish to soften and remove it merely by rubbing the nail against the brush.

When the level of the solvent is such that replenishing of the solvent is necessary, it can be seen that it is a very simple matter to refill the jar through the aperture 42 in the insert 12 and that it is not necessary to remove the insert and its depending cleaning member to replenish the solvent supply within the jar.

If, for example, the cleansing device of the present invention is to be used for polishing silverware or the like, such as, spoons or forks, or is to be used for cleaning mechanical parts prior to sale or assembly, it can be seen that they can be cleaned with equal facility. All that is necessary is to fill the jar to the desired level with the proper solvent or cleaning medium and to rub the part against the brush as described. It may be that the configuration of the part to be polished or cleaned may be such that it will be more efiicient to have the jar or receptacle of a particular configuration, such as elongated for table silverware. It is apparent that this is a matter of convenience and that the present invention is suitable for, and will function equally well with, jars or receptacles of all sizes and shapes.

The invention claimed is:

l. The combination of cleaning means and a support therefor of the type insertable into a receptacle having an opening communicating with the interior thereof, comprising an insert adapted to be received by and removably secured within the receptacle opening, means defining an aperture in said insert communicating with the interior of the receptacle, and cleaning means secured to and depending from said insert and arranged to be disposed within the receptacle when the insert is secured within the receptacle opening, said cleaning means being formed of an elongated cleaning member having a yieldable brush portion arranged intermediate spaced end portions, the brush ortion being bent into a ring shaped configuration and the end portions being bent to lie in a common plane substantially normal to the plane of the brush portion and to extend in a common direction therefrom spacing said brush portion from and below the underside of the insert, said brush portion being arranged in register with the aperture permitting engagement therewith by an article to be cleaned inserted into the receptacle through the aperture in the insert.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 including limiting means associated with the insert and arranged to cooperate with the opening of the receptacle and which acts to limit the positioning of the insert within the opening.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein the said limiting means comprises an extending flange sur rounding the insert and which is not receivable within the opening of the receptacle.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein the said insert is provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinal grooves in the peripheral wall thereof facilitating placement of the insert within the opening of the receptacle.

5. The combination of a receptacle and a cleansing device removably positioned therewithin, said receptacle having an opening therein communicating with the interior thereof, said cleansing device comprising an insert formed to be received by and snugly secured Within the said opening, aperture means in the said insert communicating with the interior of the receptacle, and cleansing means supported by and depending from the insert and normally disposed within the interior of the receptacle, said cleaning means being formed of an elongated member provided with a yieldable brush portion intermediate its end portions, the brush portion being bent into a substantially annular configuration and the end portions being bent to lie in a common plane normal to the plane of the brush portion permitting the said brush portion to be secured to the insert in spaced relation thereto below the underside thereof and in register with the aperture therein, solvent means within the receptacle and operatively associated with the brush portion whereby an article to be cleaned may be inserted through the aperture into the receptacle for engagement with both the solvent and the cleaning portion of the cleaning member.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 including limiting means associated with the insert and arranged to cooperate with the opening of the receptacle and which acts to limit the positioning of the insert within the opening.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 wherein the said limiting means comprises an extending flange surrounding the insert and which is not receivable within the opening of the receptacle.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 5 wherein said insert is provided with a plurality of spaced longitudinal grooves in the peripheral wall thereof facilitating placement of the insert within the opening of the receptacle.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said cleaning means comprises a core of twisted strands of wire and yieldable bristles gripped between the twisted wires to form the said brush portion, and securing means associated with said insert and cooperating with at least one of the end portions of the core to support the cleaning means within the receptacle, said securing means comprising at least one downwardly opening bore in the underside of the insert dimensioned to receive and to hold an end portion of the core whereby the said brush portion is supported in operative position within the receptacle.

6 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,629,124 2/ 1953 Merritt 132-75 2,703,422 3/1955 Roosa 13275 2,771,621 11/1956 Erickson 13274.5

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. EDWARD L. ROBERTS, Examiner. 

